Security

Issues related to security of plants, waste, or transportation of waste.

U.S. unprepared for nuclear terror, experts say

Evacuation plans available to public, first responders faulted

UCS COMMENTS ON PROPOSED REVISION TO 10 CFR PART 26

UCS believes that the working hour limits rulemaking is needed to adequately protect against worker impairment caused by fatigue. However, we have strong concerns that the wording in the proposed rulemaking falls short of providing that adequate protection. We have identifed those shortfalls in our comments and, whenever possible, recommended ways to close these loopholes.

Potential Radioactive Releases from Commercial Reactors and Spent Fuel

Commercial nuclear reactors and storage facilities for their spent fuel contain large amounts of radioactive material, and are not designed to resist attack. The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has determined, however, that these facilities require only a light defense. This paper shows, without disclosing any sensitive information, that reactors and spent-fuelstorage facilities have vulnerabilities that could be exploited by knowledgeable and determined attackers, yielding atmospheric releases including tens of MCi of cesium-137. To address this threat, measures described here could provide enhanced defense of reactors and spent fuel, thereby reducing the potential for a large release. A high-priority measure would be to equip spent-fuel pools with low-density racks, storing the remaining spent fuel in hardened, dispersed dry-storage modules at the plant site. Adoption of such measures awaits a recognition by the NRC that commercial nuclear facilities can be considered as radiological weapons awaiting activation by an enemy.

U.S. reactors remain vulnerable to air attack

More than four years after Sept. 11, 2001, the 103 civilian nuclear reactors in the United States are still defenseless against direct air attack, and their minimum requirement for ground security has only been upgraded by a single security guard each.

Small Leak at Indian Point Eludes Diver and Cameras

A drop of radioactive water leaks every minute from the pool that stores the spent fuel rods at Indian Point 2 here. The water is captured in a plastic sheet and then channeled into a plastic bottle for disposal. It adds up to a quart or two a day.

9/11 Panel Criticizes U.S. Nuclear Terror Readiness

The former vice chairman of the federally convened panel on the September 2001 al-Qaeda attacks today identified securing nuclear materials as the most important of a host of urgent improvements needed in post-Sept. 11 U.S. national-security efforts

Feds Scrutinize Nuclear Plant over Alert Failure

Federal regulators say they'll keep closer tabs on the Oyster Creek nuclear plant in Ocean County. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission says the plant never declared an unusual event alert in August when sea grass built up, leading to a lower flow of water used to cool the plant.

06.02.2006-ninthcircuitcourt

A copy of the Ninth Circuit Court decision requiring NRC to consider terrorism in siting high-level radioactive waste storage on-site at Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant.

NRC unwilling to include threats of terrorism in building new nuke plants

With construction of many new nuclear reactors under discussion, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is grappling with the question of whether they should be designed to withstand a Sept. 11-style airplane attack. The commission has told its staff to study the vulnerabilities of the four new reactor designs, two of which it has already approved. But it has decided not to make the nuclear power industry meet security requirements any tougher than those for existing plants, which were designed before suicide airliner attacks, and even before the development of such airplanes.

Sen. Barbara Boxer's Letter to NRC re: Design Basis Threat Regulations

 

Union of Concerned Scientists Issue Brief: THE NRC’S REVISED SECURITY REGULATIONS

On January 29, 2007, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) voted 5-0 to revise its security regulations to better protect nuclear power plants following the 9/11 tragedy. NRC Chairman Dale Klein’s formal statement about the agency’s ruling began with these two sentences: Nuclear power plants are inherently robust structures that our studies show provide adequate protection in a hypothetical attack by an airplane. The NRC has also taken actions that require nuclear power plant operators to be able to manage large fires or explosions – no matter what caused them. This issue brief examines the Chairman’s two sentences.

Nuclear safety up in the air

Our view: New rules for nuke plants don't adequately address 9/11's threat from above

ATTORNEY GENERAL ANDREW CUOMO SLAMS NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION’S RULING ON ATOMIC PLANT SECURITY

 

MARKEY SEEKS ANSWERS AFTER REPORTED SECURITY BREACH AT NUCLEAR PLANT - Former Employee of Palisades, Seabrook Allegedly Lied About Past, Still Given Sensitive Jobs

Representative Edward J. Markey (D-MA), a senior member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, today wrote to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) demanding answers in light of reports that the former security manager at the Palisades nuclear plant in Michigan who had also been employed at the Seabrook nuclear plant in New Hampshire, is an individual who claimed to be a paid assassin and evidently fabricated much of his background but still managed to obtain both of his sensitive jobs and the necessary security clearances.

Palisades security chief `had everyone fooled'

``If they're handing out sensitive nuclear security jobs to someone who claimed to be a gun for hire, who else are they hiring to secure nuclear materials?'' Rep. Markey asked in the release. ``If the reports about this individual, William E. Clark, are true, there are potentially deadly gaps in the current process used to evaluate prospective employees.''

Man Sleeping In Train Car Slips Into San Onofre Power Plant

Southern California Edison has changed its security procedures for inspecting train cars entering the San Onofre nuclear power plant after a sleeping illegal immigrant was accidentally carried onto the property, it was reported Thursday.

EPA: Nuclear licenses should weigh terrorism - Stand on Indian Point relicensing runs counter to NRC view

The Environmental Protection Agency, in a break from the federal nuclear authority, says the potential impact of terrorism should be considered in deciding whether to relicense the Indian Point nuclear power plants.

Pipe Bomb Locks Down Ariz. Nuke Plant

Security officials at the nation's largest nuclear power plant detained a contract worker with a small pipe bomb in the back of his pickup truck Friday, and investigators were searching his apartment, authorities said. It didn't appear to be an act of terrorism, authorities said, but they were still trying to determine why the device was in the truck.

Asleep At The Power Plant - Look Who’s Guarding Nuclear Power Plants, And Getting Plenty Of Shut-Eye On The Job

Many of the nation's nuclear plants are guarded by specially-trained forces from Wackenhut security. They're manning the front lines in the war on terror. But video obtained exclusively by CBS News shows a look at what some have been doing on the job, CBS News correspondent Sharyl Attkisson reports. They've been sleeping.

Safety issues at Alabama nuke plant

Engineer at Farley says he was suspended for reporting problems; feds criticize Southern Co. site, plan to increase level of inspections.

Nuclear Plants Subject to Terrorism, Earthquakes, States Warn

New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo and the attorneys general of five other states have submitted a letter to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, NRC, expressing "serious concerns" about the commission's disregard of safety issues - such as earthquakes or terrorist attacks - when deciding whether to renew the operating license of a nuclear power plant beyond its initial 40 year term. "The NRC's failure to address safety issues including updating its review of seismic activity in the relicensing of nuclear power plants is irresponsible," said Cuomo.

COMMENTS ON NRC PROPOSED RULE “CONSIDERATION OF AIRCTAFT IMPACTS FOR NEW NUCLEAR POWER REACTOR DESIGNS” (RIN 3150-AI19)

 

Breaches show need for nuclear safeguards

AS THE UNITED STATES considers boosting its commitment to nuclear energy, incidents at two nuclear plants - one foreign, one domestic - show the huge dangers of lax security. The issue is especially critical at a time of global terror threats and potential attacks by mercenaries.

Nuclear Safety Rule Ignites Strong Reactions

Federal regulators' narrow approach to solving one of the United States' biggest post-Sept. 11 fears - a terrorist flying a plane into a nuclear power plant - is under attack for adding to public safety concerns.

Local Scrutiny Convinces Spanish Firm To Beef Up Maine Yankee Security

Iberdrola, the Spanish energy giant that purchased Central Maine Power's parent company recently, has settled with Friends of the Coast for provisions affecting the spent nuclear fuel facility in Wiscasset.

Nuclear Security: Action May Be Needed to Reassess the Security of NRC-Licensed Research Reactors. GAO-08-403, January 31

There are 37 research reactors in the United States, mostly located on college campuses. Of these, 33 reactors are licensed and regulated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Four are operated by the Department of Energy (DOE) and are located at three national laboratories. Although less powerful than commercial nuclear power reactors, research reactors may still be attractive targets for terrorists. As requested, GAO examined the (1) basis on which DOE and NRC established the security and emergency response requirements for DOE and NRC-licensed research reactors and (2) progress that the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has made in converting U.S. research reactors that use highly enriched uranium (HEU) to low enriched uranium (LEU) fuel. This report summarizes the findings of GAO’s classified report on the security of research reactors (GAO-08-156C).

Once a Defender of Indian Point Plant, the State Pushes to Close It

New York is the first state to formally oppose the relicensing of a nuclear power plant, and officials say there are two main reasons for taking that position: On Sept. 11, 2001, American Airlines Flight 11, which slammed into the north tower of the World Trade Center, and United Airlines Flight 175, which hit the south tower, flew along the Hudson River and crossed it just north of Indian Point.

FPL fined over sleeping security guards

Nuclear regulators have proposed fining Florida Power & Light $130,000 because Wackenhut contract guards fell asleep at its Turkey Point nuclear power plant.